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SunnyKids Playground - Jen - My Sunny Corner
Grades
K to 2
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Explore SunnyKids Playground for some great resources for young students. It was created by a parent for her now-grown child but has been kept alive for the enjoyment of others. ...more
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Explore SunnyKids Playground for some great resources for young students. It was created by a parent for her now-grown child but has been kept alive for the enjoyment of others. Categories of the site include fun and games, word puzzles, the music room, story time, and more. Explore the Fun and Games section to find "Crack the Code" and "Guess Me" games. Find classic children's songs in QuickTime format in the music room. (Be sure to test on your own computer to be sure you have the plugins to make them play before announcing the song to young ones!) Visit Story Time for printable stories, hear an audio story, fix a story, or to produce a silly story maker. Many of the games/interactives require Java. Some of the audio books ONLY work on Internet Explorer.
tag(s): holidays (142), logic (248), parts of speech (67), preK (288), puzzles (203), songs (53), stories and storytelling (32)
In the Classroom
Test the site on your classroom computers to be sure you have the right plug-ins. Create links on classroom computers for students to complete word puzzles, listen to children's music, or create their own silly story. Print each silly story created by students and make a class book for students to enjoy over and over. After creating a story, have older students exchange with a partner, identifying nouns, verbs, and adjectives found in their partner's creation. Share this site with parents through your classroom newsletter or website for students to enjoy at home.
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CPalms - Standards Based Resource Information - Florida Department of Education
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Search and find standards based resources in every subject and grade levels. Many are aligned to Florida standards, some also to Common Core. Recently added resources appear on the...more
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Search and find standards based resources in every subject and grade levels. Many are aligned to Florida standards, some also to Common Core. Recently added resources appear on the home page. In addition, there are several search options available. Browse by subject area then narrow choices using drop boxes for grade level, and instructional components. Also choose from a keyword search to find specific topics and phrases. Choose all resources to view the list of over 1800 resources available. Short explanations include basic information; click on the link to view a full description.
tag(s): florida (11), professional development (164)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site for use throughout the school year when searching for resources for any topic. Share with other staff members as a teaching resource.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Best Word Book Ever - kokogiak on Flickr
Grades
4 to 12
6 Favorites
0 Comments
This clever Flickr page shows a comparison of Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever published 28 years apart. Placing your cursor over the cover images will give you pop out ...more
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This clever Flickr page shows a comparison of Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever published 28 years apart. Placing your cursor over the cover images will give you pop out descriptions of the differences in the two covers. You will also find images of some of the differences for the pages inside, with an explanation. Please note some schools block Flickr. So preview ahead of time! Also, remember Flickr does have comments from users.
In the Classroom
Do you still have a favorite picture book from your childhood? Consider going to the library to find a more current version and compare the differences. Have your students ask their parents if they still have a copy of their favorite picture book, and they can pick up a copy of the current edition to compare. With older students, you can use the Best Word Book Ever comparison to see the changes in what is politically incorrect now that was in the earlier version. Students then discuss what society valued at the time of the older edition compared to what our current society values. There are not just the gender role differences (policeman vs the woman police officer). Look at the wording in the older version for behavioral expectations, too. Literature teachers could carry this one step further and make a comparison of the expectations of society at the time of a classic (Tom Sawyer, Pride and Prejudice ) and what society valued during that time. Students could make one of these comparisons using a program like Bookemon reviewed here, which creates interactive online books. They could take that project one step further with UtellStory, reviewed here, and add narrated commentary. Make sure your students adhere to Copyright laws if creating online. You may want to work offline using PowerPoint so student products can include copyrighted images under "Fair Use."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Quietube - STML
Grades
K to 12
15 Favorites
0 Comments
Remove all the clutter and "stuff" from YouTube, Vimeo, and Viddler videos. Check out the "Quick Tutorial" link to learn more! Drag the button on this page to your bookmark ...more
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Remove all the clutter and "stuff" from YouTube, Vimeo, and Viddler videos. Check out the "Quick Tutorial" link to learn more! Drag the button on this page to your bookmark bar. When you choose a video, click the bookmark button. A new page opens that shows the video without all the comments and advertisements. Send the URL of this page to friends, families, or for access for your students. At the time of this review, Quietube only seemed to work with Chrome.
tag(s): classroom management (159), safety (92), video (278)
In the Classroom
Share "distraction-free" videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share the URL for the clearer video on your class website or in assignments. Removing the comments and advertisements can make for a much better viewing experience. This is especially true of your ADD, autistic, unfocused gifted, or other special needs students. Less distraction = better learning experience for all.
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Reframe it - Reframe it
Grades
8 to 12
8 Favorites
0 Comments
Use this browser add-on to comment anywhere on the web. Reframe It is a Firefox and Internet Explorer extension. Make specific comments next to the text or images of any ...more
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Use this browser add-on to comment anywhere on the web. Reframe It is a Firefox and Internet Explorer extension. Make specific comments next to the text or images of any website. Share your thoughts with friends and groups in Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and more. Add critiques or questions to share with others. You can share the annotated pages by url, even if the recipient does NOT have the add on. Find sample documents to try before downloading the add on here.
tag(s): browser (5), writing prompts (93)
In the Classroom
Use to comment and annotate on pictures and information anywhere on the web. This is a great tool for you (or your students) to annotate research and information on the Internet. Create teacher annotations or question and answer comments on pages. Ask comprehension questions or guiding questions for places you send students on the web. Ask questions that students can complete as homework to show that they accessed the web resource assigned. If students have access to the add-on with individual log-ins, they can converse and debate about web page content. This tool wold also be a powerful way for students to point out bias on a web page or for art students to comment on images and design elements. Create writing prompts by adding questions or comments to a web page and sharing it with students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Stripgenerator - Stripgenerator
Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Create simple and easy cartoon strips. Add frames, characters, balloons for speech text, and other items. The drag and drop interface makes it easy to create a comic strip. Share ...more
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Create simple and easy cartoon strips. Add frames, characters, balloons for speech text, and other items. The drag and drop interface makes it easy to create a comic strip. Share by url or embedding into your wiki, blog, or site. You can create a comic strip as a guest but must register to be able to save. If you plan to share this site with students, you must preview. There are unmoderated "latest" comics on the home page.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): comics and cartoons (65), emotions (36)
In the Classroom
Because of the public content, be SURE to tell students to go directly to the creation tools (and not to explore the public strips). If you cannot monitor/trust individuals, use a whole class account and have one group at a time work where you can monitor. Instead of writing boring summaries, why not assign a rotating scribe to summarize class through a comic strip. Make a class wiki collection of the comics created throughout the year. Use comics to show sequencing of events. When studying about characterization, create dialog to show (not tell) about a character. Another idea - why not use the comic strips for conflict resolution or other guidance issues (such as bullying). Emotional support and autistic support teachers can work with students to create strips about appropriate interpersonal responses and/or feelings. Sometimes it is easier for students to write it down (or create pictures) than use the actual words. World language and ESL/ELL teachers can assign students to create dialog strips as an alternate to traditional written assessments.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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Dr. Kate Kinsella's Learning Activities - Dr. Kate Kinsella and the California Department of Education
Grades
6 to 9
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Dr. Kinsella shares several learning activities for middle school students, with a focus on English language learners. There are four different professional learning activities each...more
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Dr. Kinsella shares several learning activities for middle school students, with a focus on English language learners. There are four different professional learning activities each containing four activities and lessons. Included are video presentations, detailed questioning techniques, and ideas for differentiation and assessment. The format for each activity includes Consider Your Practice, View the Video, Apply the Concepts, and Make it Happen at Your School.
tag(s): literacy (106), questioning (36), vocabulary development (124)
In the Classroom
Use this information during professional development sessions to develop techniques and ideas for teaching English language learners. Share with ESL/ELL teachers as a resource. Although geared toward English language learners, there are many tools on the site that can be used in any classroom such as the Lesson Observation and Reflection Tool found in the Take Action Section of the first learning activity. There are many other professional resources at this site.
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Teach Your Monster to Read - Usborne Foundation
Grades
K to 2
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Teach Your Monster to Read is a free early reading program built on the principles of synthetic phonics. Activities develop speed and accuracy of letter recognition by taking...more
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Teach Your Monster to Read is a free early reading program built on the principles of synthetic phonics. Activities develop speed and accuracy of letter recognition by taking a fantastic adventure through a magical world where you meet island kings and collect letters to win prizes. The program also explores blending and segmenting, and introduces "tricky" words in a fun, interactive setting. Registration with email and a password enables you to save games and track progress. Get an overview of the game by playing the demo without registration. This site was created in Great Britain so some words may have British English spellings and pronunciation.
In the Classroom
Share this site with parents for fun at-home reading practice. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Create an account for each student. Use this site as a reading center on classroom computers. Don't forget headsets!
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Josie's Poems - Josie Whitehead
Grades
1 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Enjoy Josie Whitehead's poems, written to charm children into a love of poetry. Choose the main poetry index to browse categories such as funny poems, performance poems, narrative poems,...more
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Enjoy Josie Whitehead's poems, written to charm children into a love of poetry. Choose the main poetry index to browse categories such as funny poems, performance poems, narrative poems, and more. Another link leads to poems suitable for teens and adults. This site presents lots of poetry in an easy to see format. A few poems on the site are only available after the purchase of the author's books; however, the large majority of poems are free. This site was created in the United Kingdom, so American English speakers may notice some slightly different spellings and/or vocabulary.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): poetry (219)
In the Classroom
Use poems in this collection as the core of a poetry unit or simply to honor National Poetry Month. Mark it in your favorites to use from year to year. Project these easy-view poems on an interactive whiteboard to mark rhyme scheme, etc. Most poems are short with a simple cadence making them perfect to use as inspiration for students to create their own poetry. Have your students create an online "scrapbook" of poems using Scrapblog (reviewed here). View all of TeachersFirst's Editor's Choices for Poetry Monthhere for further ideas for using poetry in the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teacher Invaders Game Generator - Andrew Field
Grades
1 to 8
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Create a Flash-based interactive game in a "flash." The free software is Windows only. Teacher Invaders, from the makers of the popular Fling the Teacher game, is based on the ...more
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Create a Flash-based interactive game in a "flash." The free software is Windows only. Teacher Invaders, from the makers of the popular Fling the Teacher game, is based on the very first video arcade game of the 1970s, called Space Invaders. The site is free and easy to use. Enter your question(s) and hit the "generate game" button. Teacher Invaders is ideal for terminology, vocabulary, definitions, and rote learning. You can adjust the number of questions you want to include along with other aspects of the game. You can download the software (which is still under development from Content Generator). Although free of charge, you must join the forum linked on the site to be able to download the software.
tag(s): vocabulary (321), vocabulary development (124)
In the Classroom
Create games for any subject for review before testing or practice throughout the year. Share your educational games on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Assign games for homework or use on classroom computers as centers. If possible, allow cooperative learning groups to create their own educational review games to share with the class. Learning support or ELL teachers could work together with small groups to create games, reinforcing learning both in making and playing the games.Edge Features:
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Requires download/installation of software
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Inanimate Alice - BradField Company Limited
Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites
1 Comments
If you love to read, try this award-winning, interactive narrative. Inanimate Alice is a digital, interactive, graphic novel set in the 21st century. We meet Alice at the age of ...more
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If you love to read, try this award-winning, interactive narrative. Inanimate Alice is a digital, interactive, graphic novel set in the 21st century. We meet Alice at the age of eight and follow her episodic story into her mid-teens when she becomes a world class animator and designer. Your actions and choices take the story forward. As a little girl, Alice likes to draw and create games on her handheld device. She animates her imaginary friend, Brad. Travel internationally with Alice and her family as they leave China for Australia. In episode two they travel to Saudi Arabia and Italy. Read of life in the cities and visits to Singapore and Korea. Alice is truly an international citizen! World language learners will enjoy reading about Alice's travels to Indonesia and Japan in those languages. Read the episodes in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian, too.
The episodes of this graphic novel are available in your browser for free if you have Flash. To read the episodes, go to the menu (3 bars in the upper right corner) and slide to Adventures.Visit the Create link to view content created by students as they adopt Alice as a friend in this intriguing and interactive story. If your students choose to "create," you may use the tool suggested or use your own. The American Association of School Librarians recognized Inanimate Alice as a 2012 Best Website for Teaching and Learning.
The episodes of this graphic novel are available in your browser for free if you have Flash. To read the episodes, go to the menu (3 bars in the upper right corner) and slide to Adventures.Visit the Create link to view content created by students as they adopt Alice as a friend in this intriguing and interactive story. If your students choose to "create," you may use the tool suggested or use your own. The American Association of School Librarians recognized Inanimate Alice as a 2012 Best Website for Teaching and Learning.
tag(s): digital storytelling (155), interactive stories (30), reading comprehension (124)
In the Classroom
From the makers of Inanimate Alice: "... the level of interactivity starts out low in episode one, increasing with each subsequent episode in order to reflect Alice's own growing abilities, we've found that we can take an audience unfamiliar with multimedia fiction with us. Educators like Inanimate Alice because of this; students from primary to post-graduate level find the work engaging."You can use this site with younger children on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Older students will enjoy exploring the story on their own using headphones or earbuds. Have older students work in small groups, creating an episode of their own with Alice. Encougage students to use one of these recommended free multimedia tools Sway, reviewed here, Zeetings, reviewed here, or Moovly, reviewed here. Be prepared for lots of "on task" chatter from your students about this delightful site.
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Comments
This seems like a really fun site and ones kids would like. Of all of the email suggestions this week, Inanimate Alice has the most potential. The thing is, to get best effect, we must purchase.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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Pandora - Pandora Media, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Pandora is a customizable popular music streaming service based on the Music Genome Project. Enter the name of a musician or group to find a "channel" made up of singe ...more
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Pandora is a customizable popular music streaming service based on the Music Genome Project. Enter the name of a musician or group to find a "channel" made up of singe by that artist/group and other songs that have similar characteristics: lyrics, rhythm, style, etc. The "genome" sorts and matches the musical characteristics of the artist or of a particular song. Register for free (requires email). Then as you listen, click "like" to teach Pandora your preferences. Read more about the Music Genome Project under "About" in the footer of the page. There is a paid version of Pandora, but the few commercials in the free version are tolerable. Pandora also has free apps versions to use on mobile devices, and your account is accessible from all devices.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): lyrics (21), music theory (44), poetry (219)
In the Classroom
In music classes, use Pandora to open discussion about elements and styles of music. Play a channel long enough for students to hear a few selections, then ask them to figure out what the different songs have in common, perhaps besides an artist. Why does the work of another artist show in the same "channel"? While studying lyrics as poetry in an English/Language Arts class, compare lyrics of songs from the same channel. How are they similar? What other song lyrics might you add to this channel?Use a Pandora channel as background during a discussion of certain decades of the 20th century or have students find/create channels that represent an era such as the Civil War period. Have them explain their "mix" and why it is representative. Play a Pandora channel as a writing prompt or during art activities to promote creative expression. During a unit on how to study, be sure to offer Pandora as a customizable way for students to create an auditory "study environment." World language teachers can find artists whose lyrics use the language they are teaching to build listening skills. Elementary teachers and ESL/ELL teachers can use channels with children's songs for vocabulary or other class activities.
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inklewriter - Joseph Humfrey and Jon Ingold
Grades
4 to 12
10 Favorites
0 Comments
Create interactive, choose your own adventure (branching) style stories with inklewriter. This site is ideal for anyone to create a story and then share with others via a unique URL....more
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Create interactive, choose your own adventure (branching) style stories with inklewriter. This site is ideal for anyone to create a story and then share with others via a unique URL. These stories allow for others to create their own path or choose an existing one. Begin by choosing to read stories or create your own. Type parts of the story including the title, author, beginning, introduction, and add sections as needed. After each paragraph is the option to create different outcomes of the story, offering choices the reader makes. The site contains excellent tutorials for getting started with stories. When finished, share the URL for your story using Twitter or Facebook or copy the URL to share and bookmark as you wish. Of course, your "story" need not be fiction! You could also write an opinion piece with branches for people to ask click on questions about facets of your argument! NOTE: When you click to begin writing, you should click SIGN IN and choose to make a new account. Do this before you start writing in order to be able to save. The tool will then save your work as you go along. Although you do not HAVE to sign in before you start, it is risky to sign up later! Here is a sample to show just ONE way to use Inklewriter besides the obvious use for storytelling. Inklewriter has also made it easier for teachers to sign up students WITHOUT student email addresses. Read the directions about how to do this on the landing page by scrolling down and finding "Sign-up and email addresses."
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tag(s): creative writing (165), digital storytelling (155), narrative (20), persuasive writing (57)
In the Classroom
View stories on the site together to understand the components of the site and discuss how different choices in characters and settings lead to different story outcomes. (Be sure to preview stories before sharing, since there is "public"' content.) Watch the tutorials together on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) before students begin to write stories. Use a graphic organizer to "map out" the story before writing. Create a short story together as a class to become familiar using the site. Assign a group of students to create an interactive story each week to share on your classroom website or blog. Have students create a story map before beginning a story on inklewriter; use a tool such as 25 Language Arts Graphic Organizers, reviewed here. Create class stories to teach about literature, geography, reading comprehension, history, science concepts, and more. As a more "serious" approach, use Inklewriter to present opinion pieces where you take a position and allow readers to click on questions about it. They could also click on statements expressing opposing views so you can write counterarguments to their points. This could end up being a powerful way to present an argument and evidence as required by Common Core writing standards. A graphic organizer for planning and organizing evidence is a must! Teachers of gifted could use this for students to develop elaborate fictional or informational pieces. If you work with students who struggle, scaffold with a template for them to organize their thoughts.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
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TweetChat - tweetchat.com
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
TweetChat is a simple and easy tool for isolating and following specific Twitter hashtags in real time. Sign in to a chat room using the hashtag and your Twitter login ...more
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TweetChat is a simple and easy tool for isolating and following specific Twitter hashtags in real time. Sign in to a chat room using the hashtag and your Twitter login information. All you will see on your screen are the tweets using your tweetchat's chosen hashtag. Reply right from tweetchat without leaving the page; send and continue reading the conversation. Each reply will automatically include the hashtag. Tweetchat has a great feature called smart pausing. When you scroll down, it stops refreshing, allowing you to find what you are looking for and reply or retweet the information without losing it. New to Twitter? Read more about Twitter from TeachersFirst's Twitter for Teachers page.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (51), microblogging (41), twitter (45)
In the Classroom
If your school permits student Twitter accounts, use TweetChat on laptops during a video or student presentations. Pose questions for all to answer/discuss using an assigned hashtag. Ask students to pose their own "I wonder if..." questions as they watch and listen. Keep every student engaged and THINKING as an active listener. The first time you use TweetChat, you will want to establish some etiquette and accountability rules, such as respectful language and constructive criticism. Assign students to watch a news program or political show and have a chat during the broadcast. Revisit the chat on a projector in class the next day or post the chat transcript to a class blog or wiki and have students respond further in blog posts or on the wiki discussion tab. The advantage of backchannel chat is that every student has a voice, no matter how shy.Use Tweetchat to collaborate with other classrooms or teachers at a distance. Use a whole class Twitter account to contribute to a regular chat. Professionally, teachers can join subject or grade level specific Tweetchats that happen in real time. See the Twitter Chat Schedule, reviewed here or Educational hashtags listings here to find real time groups you can join using Tweetchat.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log in (NO email)
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Pen.io - Anthony Feint
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Write and publish a very simple blog post or writing piece instantly. This is a simple tool and requires NO membership. Pen.io is also ideal for collaborative drafts. All you ...more
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Write and publish a very simple blog post or writing piece instantly. This is a simple tool and requires NO membership. Pen.io is also ideal for collaborative drafts. All you need to do to create a page is to choose a name and a password for editing. (You may have to try a few names to find one that is unique.) You receive a URL you can give to others along with the password to be able to collaborate. Or simply share the url for them to read only. You can include an image by dragging and dropping.
tag(s): blogs (85), editing (72), process writing (48), proofreading (25), writing (365)
In the Classroom
Publish student writing projects such as short stories, poems, and reports. Publish study guides before tests. Publish directions for assignments. With the options for password protected editors, students could post a collaborative report and have others help edit the work. This is an easy way to set up a student blog, especially if the focus is on writing rather than multimedia. Have students write a progressive story where they each add a portion. Practice vocabulary in English or world languages by having students add sentences throughout the year, continuously using the newest words. Just make sure that students use the same password for all the stories started in a class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SpeakPipe - Speakpipe.com
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
SpeakPipe offers a widget to install on your blog or website so readers can send you an audio message of up to five minutes in length. The message goes to ...more
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SpeakPipe offers a widget to install on your blog or website so readers can send you an audio message of up to five minutes in length. The message goes to your Speakpipe inbox, and you receive an email notification. You also receive a url for the message that you could post on the blog so others can hear the comments. Visitors click the "leave voicemail" button to access. Next, the visitor records a message for you. Users have the option of including their names and email addresses.
tag(s): blogs (85), communication (10)
In the Classroom
When installed on a school website, SpeakPipe provides a good way for parents to leave voicemail messages. Unless one of you shares the url, the communication remains confidential. Download messages to your computer as a simple way for students to record their voice responses for use in a multimedia project on your classroom blog. After posting student work on your classroom website or blog, allow students to record information responding or explaining each project. Encourage emerging readers to record their own voices reading a blog post they write. Auditory learners will truly benefit from this tool. Install this on your class blog or wiki so parents who visit can leave audio comments for the class. World language teachers could post an image on a class web site and ask students to record a response in their new language. SChool library/media centers can invite students so comment about new books listed on the web page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SimpleMeet.Me - Irian Solutions
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
SimpleMeet.Me is a free service to quickly create an online chat room and invite others. That code appearing when you open SimpleMeet.me is the code that you can give to ...more
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SimpleMeet.Me is a free service to quickly create an online chat room and invite others. That code appearing when you open SimpleMeet.me is the code that you can give to anyone you want to join your chat. They simply enter that code to join. Registration is not required to use SimpleMeet.me.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (51), social networking (112)
In the Classroom
Use this site to connect to other classes to open up conferencing between your students in one convenient place. Safety is not a concern with this site, since only those with your unique code can participate in a chat. Chat sessions are not saved. (You can copy/paste the content into a document before closing to save an offline copy.) Use this site for a means to connect to any classroom you choose for any subject area. Connect to learn about other locations, learn various perspectives, find animals that are similar yet different, learn about the different books others are reading, survey students on various economic, political, or environmental topics. Be sure to plan content ahead of time, so students have the opportunity to think through the material and formulate a response. Discuss appropriate ways to communicate to others prior to connecting with another classroom. Use SimpleMeet.me as a place for students to brainstorm and share ideas about a topic. Use as a simple help forum for students to ask questions of each other and of you. Share your unique code with parents once a month for a question and answer session at a scheduled time.Use backchannel chat on laptops during a video or student presentations. Pose questions for all to answer/discuss in the backchannel, or ask students to pose their own "I wonder if..." questions as they watch and listen. Keep every student engaged and THINKING as an active listener. The first time you use backchannel, you will want to establish some etiquette and accountability rules. The advantage of backchannel chat is that every student has a voice, no matter how shy. In world language classes or even autistic support class, have students using new language vocabulary in backchannel descriptions of what they see while classmates act out a scene from a video, or describing the feelings of the actors. In studying literature, collaborate with another class to have students role-play a chat between two characters or in history class for conversations between soldiers on two sides of the Civil War or different sides of the Scopes Monkey trial.
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Snapguide - Heavy Bits
Grades
2 to 12
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Looking for an easy to use "how to" guide? You must visit Snapguide! Find various topics: Sports & Fitness, Technology, Cooking, Music, Arts & Crafts, Gardening, and countless others....more
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Looking for an easy to use "how to" guide? You must visit Snapguide! Find various topics: Sports & Fitness, Technology, Cooking, Music, Arts & Crafts, Gardening, and countless others. You can view all of the content of this site without joining. Create your own "how to" guide on any topic. It's a "snap" to create the directions with pictures. Use your computer or iOS device to create a guide. Download the app onto your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to create a guide for explaining anything! Each page contains a picture and text to explain the parts for your guide.
tag(s): computers (102), crafts (39), directions (19), fitness (50), makerspace (11), photography (157), sequencing (29), speeches (19)
In the Classroom
Share the ready-made snapguides in various classes: family and consumer science, music, art, photography, science, computer, and more! Create your own snapguides to share with your class on any subject matter. ESL/ELL and other special needs students will learn better seeing the photos along with the instructions. Use Snapguide to explain a lesson or a project that has multiple directions. Use Snapguide for directions for parents. Create a snapguide for your students when leaving plans for a substitute teacher. Students can also create their own snapguides to use as presentations and even for sequencing practice. These re the perfect prompts for writing and giving informative, how-to speeches. Students can explore the guides available and follow directions or even evaluate their effectiveness. Have cooperative learning groups create their own snapguides to share a new topic with the class. Encourage students to use Snapguide to illustrate their math solutions, discuss the completion and science behind a lab experiment, or show cause and effect.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Requires download/installation of software
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Talk Typer - 2012 TalkTyper
Grades
K to 12
10 Favorites
0 Comments
Your spoken words are instantly changed to written text. You need to use the Chrome browser for this site to work properly. Just click on the microphone and speak. Follow ...more
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Your spoken words are instantly changed to written text. You need to use the Chrome browser for this site to work properly. Just click on the microphone and speak. Follow simple directions and immediately begin to dictate. You need to the Chrome browser for this site to work properly. As soon as speech is ready, it appears in red, and you push ok. Corrections are suggested in red. If your speech is not recognized, there is an alternatives button to help you dictate correctly. You can also click on the speaker button to hear the written words played back to you. Click the blue arrow to move the text down to the larger text box. There you can store several phrases or sentences together. Choose to print, email, or tweet your message. Talk Typer is also available in a variety of languages. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly. This is best used with short phrases or sentences.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): text to speech (18)
In the Classroom
Talk Typer is a very versatile tool, for students, parents, and teachers alike. Bypass poor typing skills, dysgraphia, dyslexia, and physical disabilities. Use this tool in emails, documents, or anything requiring typed text. Use in your writing class so students can either write or edit their work. Use when you are in a hurry with emails requiring long text. Use for your newsletters or family emails. Share this on your class website and at Back to School Night. Emerging literacy students will enjoy the success they have with their oral language into written word. Improve content and forget about mechanics of writing or typing. Focus in on grammar and mechanics after seeing the recognized mistakes. Include this website on every tool bar and as a favorite on your class web page. ELL students can speak English, play it back, and correct it until it "sounds right" and expresses their ideas correctly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vozme - Festival Speech Synthesis System Centre for Speech Technology
Grades
K to 12
8 Favorites
0 Comments
Change text into speech in your email messages, in your browser, website, or Wordpress blog. VozMe is free and easy. Save as an MP3 file and expand your possibilities. Languages ...more
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Change text into speech in your email messages, in your browser, website, or Wordpress blog. VozMe is free and easy. Save as an MP3 file and expand your possibilities. Languages include Spanish, Italian, Catalan, Hindi, and Apache. You can also choose a male or female voice.
tag(s): text to speech (18)
In the Classroom
Create a verbal classroom using speech in your email messages, blog, browser searches, and even class discussions, read alouds, and simple explanations. Lower elementary classes, ESL/ELL, or learning support classes can enjoy greater independence with both verbal and written text. Let students try making a blog post with synthesized speech. ELL students can hear written language to build listening skills and relate written English to the spoken sounds. Send an email with an anticipatory activity for a content lesson by polling, asking a question, or offering food for thought. At the end of the unit, have students create a review for content area subjects. Use in your writing class for students to listen to their own work read aloud. This allows for easier self-revisions. Share all written work on your class blog, allowing everyone to share (with parental permission, of course). Enjoy giving students writing prompts or homework assignments spoken aloud, playable as many times as each individual needs. Send a quick email to a sick or absent student, adding a more personal touch with them hearing your message. Use to read poetry or to illustrate inflection and emotion in your speech. Enjoy all the talking and listening you and your class will do!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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